John a



(No Model) J. A. F. BROWNWELL.

TRACE FASTENER.

No. 585,425. Patented June 29, 1897.

TINTTED STATES JOHN A. F. BROYVNl/VELL, OF ROOKWALL, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ELI W. HARDIN, JOHN B. GREEN, ROBERT A. SNEAD, WILLIAM F. JONES, JAMES B. LOKEY, JAMES F. OORRY, ADELBERT LEE KIRBY, JOEL A. SELBY, AND LEVI O. GOODMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

TRACE-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 585,425, dated June 29, 1897. Application filed July 25, 1896. Serial No. 600,533. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. F. BRO'WNWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockwall, in the county of Rockwall and State of Texas, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Trace-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devices for fastening the tugs or traces without the necessity of making holes therein, which tend to weaken 1 5 them and also require that the tug or trace be adjusted to just such a position that the holes will register with the means in conjunction with which they work. I provide also for the quick and easy disengagement of the fastener in case a horse should run away.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined 2 5 by the appended claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form apart of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is avertical section through the same transversely of the tug. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the attachment before it is applied.

5 Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates a casting which is designed to be secured to the singletree in any suitable manner. In the drawings I have shown the vertical portion (0 thereof as provided with a screw-threaded shank or bolt B for this purpose; but this is but one of the many ways that may be devised for the attach- 5 ment of the casting to its proper place. This vertical portion is concave upon its outer face, while rising from the horizontal portion thereof is the stud O. The inner face of the vertical portion a at its upper edge is eccentric.

D is an eccentric mounted on this stud and adapted to turn freely thereon. Projecting from the upper face thereof is a horizontal arm or lever E, which is provided upon its 1 under face with a groove or notch F, which is adapted to receive the upper edge of the vertical portion of the casting. The outer end of this armor lever has attached thereto a cord or chain G, which is designed to extend to within convenient reach of the driver, so that in case the horse should start to run away the cord or chain may be pulled upon and the lever moved so as to disengage the notch of the same from the vertical portion of the casting, and thus relieve the tug or trace. When the tug or trace is in position and bears against the inner face of the veri tical portion of the casting, the lever is turned so as to bring the eccentric firmly against the trace, and this binds the same against the vertical portion of the casting, and the upper end of this vertical portion being received in the notch on the under side of the lever holds the lever and consequently the eccentric from turning until the lever is pulled upon byhand or by the chain or cord connected therewith.

WVhat is claimed as new is-- The combination with a singletree of a casting having a vertical portion provided with a screw-threaded shank, said portion being concave upon its outer face, a stud rising from the horizontal portion of said casting, an eccentric mounted upon said stud to turn freely thereon, a horizontal lever projecting from the upper face of said eccentric and having its lower face provided with a groove or notch adapted to receive the upper edge of the vertical portion of the casting, and a cord attached to the outer end of said lever adapted to extend within convenient reach of 0 the driver, all substantially as herein shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN A. F. BROVVNWELL.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH Cox, F. ECKERT. 

